Yunnan Beauty from Mandala Tea

Tea Information:

Leaf Type: Oolong

Where to Buy: Mandala Tea

Tea Description:

One of our favorite oolong teas capable of many infusions.

This tea is a variation on a Taiwanese oolong named “Oriental Beauty”, utilizing large-leaf wild arbor Yunnan grown leaves.  Nearly black leaves and silver tips impart a dark, sweet, wine-like flavor unto the water.  Great no matter how you choose to brew it.  This tea is quickly becoming a favorite in the tea thermos.  It will keep well and develop new flavors over 2-3 years.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Yunnan Beauty from Mandala Tea is a lovely sweet and aromatic oolong that looks much like a black tea in dry form.

The sweet aroma is present both in dry leaf and when steeped. There is a wonderful sweetness in the taste of this tea not quite honey but not quite molasses, more like sourgum. This lends to the tea being somewhat wine like in flavor, but not muscatel. If memory serves this tea is similar to a barley wine, but it has been years since I have sipped barely wine.

The flavor of this tea really coats your mouth leaving behind a long lasting delicious flavor and aroma that sticks in your nostrils. As you breath you can taste the tea even more.

At 6.00 per ounce, discounted to 21.60 if you purchase 4 ounces this tea is a steal for a high quality and totally unique oolong.

The tea has an interesting effect on the palate, in the front part of your mouth you will get a watery sensation but toward the back it is slightly drying. Not nearly as drying as some oolongs I have sipped but the drying effect is there. The watering mouth mixed with the drying in the back keeps you fully hydrated in between sips yet at the same time makes you just want another and another!

I really quite enjoy Mandala Tea’s Yunnan Beauty Oolong and am happy it is in my stash.